Yorkie

Shame for the lad and for our accounts but not disappointed to have him as cover. Strange case though, wonder what's happened and suspect we don't know a tenth of it.

The hoovering has been unprecedented this summer. So, so many players from the mid-range going to the ESL clubs. There's always a few, every year, but not too these numbers.

As always you can't judge the success of a transfer window until several months after it's closed; probably only at the end of the season really. You can't make a fair judgement without seeing the results. However, I think you can judge our process and organisation and I think we've done remarkably well to navigate a ludicrous and challenging market, where it's felt like we've been on the back foot since day one. I'm not going to bore everyone again with the specifics, but my steadfast view is that PSR strengthens the position of the opponents we're most directly competing with; or, at the very least, represents a much less stringent constraint on those teams. Whichever way you frame it, the impact is the same and we're faced with an external force serving to stand on our tails as we chase those ahead of us. You can look at the Isak thing in isolation to PSR but I'd argue that it's just another symptom; regardless, his actions have increased the difficulty of the task placed on the club ten-fold. So, at the end of it, for us to come away with outright upgrades in at least three positions (that's Ramsdale, Ramsey and Elanga), some succession planning at CB (Thiaw) and a successful overhaul of the striking department (Wissa and Woltemade), is really some going imo. That's before we even mention the superb clearing of surplus squaddies. There has been a quite obscene amount of utter horseshit thrown at the club over the past six weeks especially, and our business is a triumphant "fuck off" to anyone doubting the competence of the transfer committee, and anyone doubting the interest of the main decision-makers. How it all turns out remains to be seen but we've acted in a way that gives us a fighting chance of maintaining our position in the league whilst navigating the addition of a grueling European campaign. And that's all we could have reasonably asked for.

So GK Pope Ramsdale Ruddy RB Livramento Trippier Krafth Ashby CB Schär Burn Botman Thiaw Lascelles (Krafth) LB Hall (Livramento) CM Bruno Tonali Joelinton Ramsey Miley Willock W Gordon Elanga Barnes Murphy CF Wissa Woltemade (Gordon) Wonder if we've got eyes on another full-back at all.

Very much hope we don't sell Murphy. Willock, sure.

'Modest PSR flip' I said the other day so no, probably not.

If I can be a bit of a cunt, am buzzin' to say I called this. Didn't expect it at this late stage, mind.

I think losing Isak automatically means our first eleven is weaker but agree with every other word. We've been on the ropes all the summer but rather than being knocked out I'd say we're waiting for the scorecard. We're certainly better equipped for a four-tournament season than we were in 23/24 anyway.

Seeing as every single comment we ever make about signings, in or out, talks about PSR and not severely impacting future windows, I'd have optimism that we've done the sums to avoid this. I don't know the ins and outs of it though.

Honestly I'm just glad this is all coming to an end after tonight. PSR and the Isak stuff has put us in a very challenging position but we're coming out the other end with a lot of really good signings and all of the ingredients to have a great season. Onwards and upwards.

Soz 54, we were just on it at the same time.

Wew, big money. Good player though, think he'll do well.

Every local journo saying £130m so we will too. Fuck the Liverpool press.

Exactly. And @r0cafella re your comment about us becoming a mark; PSR already does this.

If Eddie Howe is still the manager at 9am tomorrow then that's all the evidence you need that the club has operated in its best interests.

Owen didn't make an absolutely enormous contribution to three of the best years I've ever had supporting the club, but this isn't a fun game...

I can't believe this is the minority voice tbh. It all comes down to Eddie Howe for me. If he's still in the building then my assumption is that the club have operated in their best interests, or at least done everything they can to do so. He'd be out the door if it was anything else.

On the theory of us demonstrating to every player that all you have to do is strike and you'll get your move... It's just a thought, but I'm saying we might feel more inclined to 'buckle/fold/crumble' when we're dealing with a once-in-a-generation sale price. If Mr £60million plays the Isak game we might more comfortably retain them because the fee isn't so tempting.

This thing about the principle; is there no consideration of the fact the case might be unique? How likely is it we have another player who's literally in the running for being the best in the world?

They'll get him as well Exactly.

He'd have rather had Guehi apparently. Pray for him!

Anyone else's Liverpool-supporting father-in-law staying with them atm?

I wonder if this situation might spark some routine change to player contracts. Going on strike has to = a transfer request at the very least.

Then it would be shit. But will have to see what happens today.

Can you link the source re the bonuses?